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Greater Boston Health Equity

Updated:Mar 7,2014

"Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhuman." -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

About UsHealth Equity is focused on promoting health equity for those communities at greatest risk for heart disease and stroke. Our goal is to reduce the disparities and incidence of premature death and disability related to heart disease and stroke by 25% by 2010 in minority communities. This will be accomplished through creative programs, awareness cause campaigns, grassroots and strategic partnerships, foundation support and strong volunteer leadership impacting racial/ethnic health disparities.

Health Equity Volunteer LeadershipOur volunteers and our partners are at the heart and soul of our mission. We strive to be a true partner and resource for the communities in Greater Boston. More

Local Programs & Initiatives

Through our Power To End Stroke events and activities, communities at greatest risk for heart disease and stroke are empowered to reduce the premature incidence and death from heart disease and stroke. More

About CVD Health DisparitiesGreater Risks, Greater Deaths

Many racial/ethnic minority populations have higher rates of CVD and related risk factors. The statistics are stark testimony to that fact.

CVD age-adjusted death rates are 33% higher for blacks than for the overall population in the U.S. NVSS, Vol. 56, No. 10, 4/24/08.

Blacks are nearly twice as likely to have a first stroke and much more likely to die from one than whites.

American Indians/Alaska Natives die from heart disease much earlier than expected – 36% are under 65 compared with only 17% for the U.S population overall.

High blood pressure is more prevalent in certain racial/ethnic minority groups in the U.S., especially blacks.

Non-Hispanic blacks, Mexican-Americans, American Indians, and Alaska Natives have a higher prevalence of diabetes than non-Hispanic whites for adults over age 20.1

Non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican American women have a higher rate of obesity, a risk factor for CVD